Taylor named Deputy Commissioner for Foods

January 14, 2010
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by Keith Nunes

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WASHINGTON — Michael Taylor was named Deputy Commissioner for Foods on Jan. 13. Mr. Taylor is the first to hold the newly created position, which is in the Food and Drug Administration and responsible for developing and implementing a prevention-oriented food safety strategy and ensuring that food labels feature clear and accurate nutrition information.

The Deputy Commissioner for Foods position was created in August 2009 when the Office of Foods was created. The Foods Program includes three operating units within the F.D.A. — the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the Center for Veterinary Medicine, and the foods-related activities of the Office of Regulatory Affairs — and draws on the resources and expertise of the F.D.A.’s National Center for Toxicological Research and key Office of Commissioner staff offices.

Mr. Taylor began his career as a staff attorney at the F.D.A., holding various positions, including deputy commissioner for policy. While at the F.D.A., he oversaw rulemaking to implement the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act and issuance of the proposed rule on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) for seafood.

Mr. Taylor also was the administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and acting undersecretary for Food Safety at the U.S.D.A., leading public health-oriented reform of the F.S.I.S., guiding the development of the Pathogen Reduction/HACCP rule for meat and poultry products, and addressing the hazard associated with E. coli O157:H7 by declaring the pathogen an adulterant in ground beef.

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